Bathing chair with fixing device

ABSTRACT

A bathing chair with a fixing device comprises front and rear frames, connected by connecting rods, each having a horizontal bar and feet, several gliding blocks, a seat, positioning devices mounted on ends of the horizontal rods, and, for each positioning device, a holding device, mounted on one of the gliding blocks. Thereby the seat is held fixed on either end of the horizontal rods.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bathing chair with a fixing device,particularly to a bathing chair with a fixing device which allows to fixa movable seat in any desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a bathing chair positioning system disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,905 comprises a front frame 21; a rear frame 22;several gliding blocks 3; a seat 4; a handle 5; and fixing devices 6, 6a. The front and rear frame rods 21, 22 are shaped like the invertedletter U, reaching across a bathtub 1. The front and rear frame rods 21,22 have horizontal rods 23, 24 passing over an edge 11 of the bathtub 1at a vertical distance and feet 231, 241. A right connecting rod 25 aand a left connecting rod 25 b connect the horizontal rods 23, 24 atright and left ends thereof. The seat 4 is a plate of roughlyrectangular shape and is mounted on the horizontal rods 23, 24, beingmovable along the horizontal rods 23, 24. Each of the gliding blocks 3is connected with the seat 4 on a lower side thereof and has a throughhole 31, allowing the gliding blocks 3 to glide along the horizontalrods 23, 24. A backrest 41 is connected to the seat 4 by two L-shapedlink rods 42 a, 42 b. The link rods 42 a, 42 b have horizontalextensions 421 a, 421 b, which are fastened to the gliding blocks 3.Thereby, the seat 4 is enabled to glide along the horizontal rods 23,24. The handle 5 is a rod which is shaped like the inverted letter U andis fastened to the front and rear frame rods 21, 22 at left endsthereof, reaching higher than the seat 4 for providing a hold when theseat 4 is moved along the horizontal rods 23, 24. The fixing devices 6,6 a are made of plastics or another suitable soft material and areshaped like strips. The fixing devices 6, 6 a have fixed ends 61, 61 aand holding ends 66, 66 a. The fixed ends 61, 61 a are fastened by boltsto the link rods 42 a, 42 b of the seat 4, respectively. The holdingends 66, 66 a are held on the right and left connecting rods 25 a, 25 b,as needed. At the holding ends 66, 66 a, the fixing devices 6, 6 a haveendpieces 68, 68 a from lower sides of which holding elements 67, 67 aextend away, respectively. Fastening elements 63, 63 a are attached toendpieces 62, 62 a at the fixed ends 61, 61 a and are in turn fastenedto the link rods 42 a, 42 b to prevent shifting of the fixing devices 6,6 a. Before sitting down on the seat 4, a user pulls up the holding end66, so that the holding element 67 is held on the right connecting rod25 a. For bathing, the user releases the holding element 67, whichsubsequently becomes detached from the right connecting rod 25 a. Theseat 4 is shifted leftward until a leftmost position over the bathtub 1,with the holding element 67 a being held on the left connecting rod 25b.

A conventional bathing chair assists elderly and handicapped people toenter and leave a bathtub safely and conveniently. However, manualfixing of the position of the seat 4 is awkward, and there is a risk ofinadvertent releasing of the seat 4.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bathing chair witha fixing device which prevents inadvertent shifting of the seat duringbathing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bathing chair witha fixing device which allows to fix the seat conveniently.

For achieving the objects, the present invention comprises front andrear frames, connected by connecting rods, each having a horizontal barwith lateral positioning holes on ends thereof and feet, several glidingblocks, a seat, positioning devices mounted on ends of the horizontalrods, and, for each positioning device, a holding device, mounted on oneof the gliding blocks. Each positioning device has an elastic elementand a bolt. Each holding device has a pressing element and aholdingelement. When one of the gliding blocks glides over one of the bolts,the pressing element thereof presses the bolt inward, until the boltengages with the holding element, so that the seat is fixed. Anunblocking device allows convenient unblocking of the seat.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example theprinciples of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bathing chair of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bathing chair of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 3 a-3 c are sectional views of the positioning and holding devicesof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the unblocking device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holding device of the presentinvention in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holding device of the presentinvention in the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the holding device of the presentinvention in the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the holding device of the presentinvention in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 (prior art) is a perspective view of a conventional bathingchair.

FIG. 10 (prior art) is an exploded perspective view of a conventionalbathing chair.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the bathing chair with a fixing device of thepresent invention has a structure which is about the same as theconventional bathing chair shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, having front andrear frame rods 21 a, 22 a with horizontal rods 23 a, 24 a, with otherstructural parts being denoted accordingly. The bathing chair with afixing device of the present invention further comprises positioningdevices 7 and a holding devices 9, each holding one of the glidingblocks 3 a, fixing the seat 4 on the horizontal rods 23 a, 24 a. In thefollowing, a detailed description is given, taking the front frame rod21 a as an example.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 a-3 c, the horizontal rod 23 a of the frontframe rod 21 a has two ends with lateral positioning holes 233 a, eachof which accommodating one of the positioning devices 7. Two feet 231 aare connected with the front frame rod 21 a at the two ends thereof.

Each of the positioning devices 7 comprises: an elastic element 72,which is a C-shaped plate spring, mounted inside of the horizontal rod23 a; and a bolt 71, set on a far end of the elastic element 72 andpassing through one of the positioning holes 233 a.

The gliding blocks 3 aeach carry one of the holding devices 9. Each ofthe holding devices 9 comprises: a pressing element 91, which is aninclined or curved surface at an edge of the through hole 31 a of one ofthe gliding blocks 3 a; and a holding hole 92, bored through a peripherythereof at a central position.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 a-3 c, when the gliding block 3 a glidestowards the bolt 71, the pressing part 91 presses the bolt 71 inward, sothat the bolt 71 does not protrude from the positioning hole 233 aanymore. As soon as the gliding block 3 a has reached an end position,the bolt 71 enters the holding hole 92, fixing the gliding block 3 a.For moving the gliding block 3 a, the bolt 71 is manually pressed on andthus retreats into the horizontal rod 23 a.

As shown in FIG. 4, an unblocking device 8 allow convenient unblockingof the gliding block 3 a. The unblocking device 8 comprises: two lugs81, extending from the periphery of the gliding block 3 a on oppositesides of the holding hole 92; an axis 83, passing through the two lugs81; and a lever arm 82, attached to the axis between the two lugs 81.

For unblocking the gliding block 3 a, the lever arm 82 is manuallypressed on, causing the bolt 71 to retreat into the positioning hole 233a.

Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention in a second embodiment hasgliding blocks 3 b and, for each of the gliding blocks 3 b, a holdingdevice 9 b, comprising a pressing part 91 b, which is an inclined orcurved surface at an edge the gliding block 3 a, and a blocking element93, mounted on an outer side of the positioning device 7. When thegliding block 3 b, being moved, reaches the position of the bolt 71, thepressing element 91 b presses the bolt 71 inward, until the glidingblock 3 b is placed between the bolt 71 and the blocking element 93 andheld there.

The blocking element 93 has further embodiments, e.g., a screw 94 asshown in FIG. 6, a ring as shown in FIG. 7, or an end of the foot 231 aas shown in FIG. 8.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for thepurpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of theinvention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A bathing chair with a fixing device, comprising: a front frame and arear frame, reaching across a bathtub, being connected by right and leftconnecting rods and having horizontal rods which pass over an edge ofsaid bathtub, at least one of said horizontal rods being a positioningrod, with each positioning rod having ends with lateral positioningholes; a seat, which is a plate of roughly rectangular shape and ismounted on said horizontal rods; several gliding blocks which areconnected with said seat on a lower side thereof and glide along saidhorizontal rods; for each of said positioning rods, a positioningdevice, further comprising an elastic element, mounted inside of saidpositioning rod, and a bolt, set on a far end of the elastic element andpassing through one of the positioning holes; and for each positioningdevice, a holding device, mounted on one of said gliding blocks andfurther comprising a pressing element, which is an inclined or curvedsurface at an edge of one of said gliding blocks, and a holding element,bored through a periphery thereof at a central position; wherein, whenone of said gliding blocks glides over one of said bolts, said pressingelement thereof presses said bolt inward, until said bolt engages withsaid holding element, so that said seat is fixed.
 2. A bathing chairwith a fixing device, comprising: a front frame and a rear frame,reaching across a bathtub, being connected by right and left connectingrods and having horizontal rods which pass over an edge of said bathtub,at least one of said horizontal rods being a positioning rod, with eachpositioning rod having ends with lateral positioning holes; a seat,which is a plate of roughly rectangular shape and is mounted on saidhorizontal rods; several gliding blocks which are connected with saidseat on a lower side thereof and glide along said horizontal rods; foreach of said positioning rods, a positioning device, further comprisingan elastic element, mounted inside of said positioning rod, and a bolt,set on a far end of the elastic element and passing through one of thepositioning holes; and for each positioning device, a holding device,mounted on one of said gliding blocks and further comprising a pressingelement, which is an inclined or curved surface at an edge of one ofsaid gliding blocks, and a blocking element, fastened to saidpositioning bar outside of said positioning device; wherein, when one ofsaid gliding blocks glides over one of said bolts, said pressing elementthereof presses said bolt inward, until said gliding block is placedbetween said bolt and said blocking element, so that said seat is fixed.3. The bathing chair with a fixing device of claim 1, wherein saidholding element is a holding hole.
 4. The bathing chair with a fixingdevice of claims 1, wherein said pressing element is an inclined or acurved surface.
 5. The bathing chair with a fixing device of claims 2,wherein said pressing element is an inclined or a curved surface.
 6. Thebathing chair with a fixing device of claim 1, wherein, for eachpositioning device, a blocking element is fastened to said positioningbar outside of said positioning device.
 7. The bathing chair with afixing device of claims 1, wherein said elastic element is a C-shapedplate spring.
 8. The bathing chair with a fixing device of claims 2,wherein said elastic element is a C-shaped plate spring.
 9. The bathingchair with a fixing device of claims 1, wherein each holding device hasan unblocking device.
 10. The bathing chair with a fixing device ofclaims 2, wherein each holding device has an unblocking device.
 11. Thebathing chair with a fixing device of claim 9, wherein said unblockingdevice comprises two lugs, extending from a periphery of one of saidgliding blocks on opposite sides of said holding element of said holdingdevice; an axis, passing through said two lugs; and a lever arm,attached to said axis between said two lugs.
 12. The bathing chair witha fixing device of claim 10, wherein said unblocking device comprisestwo lugs, extending from a periphery of one of said gliding blocks onopposite sides of said holding element of said holding device; an axis,passing through said two lugs; and a lever arm, attached to said axisbetween said two lugs.